PINCH VALVE

Abstract

A pinch valve assembly is provided for compression of a fluid conduit comprising an assembly housing (1); an interchangeable compressor element (2); an interchangeable holder element (3) for holding a fluid conduit, the holder element facing the interchangeable compressor element; the valve assembly being configured such that the compressor element is moveable towards the holder element within the assembly housing for compression of a fluid conduit between the compressor and the holder elements.

Claims

1. A pinch valve assembly for compression of a fluid conduit comprising: an assembly housing; an interchangeable compressor element; an interchangeable holder element for holding a fluid conduit, the holder element facing the interchangeable compressor element; the valve assembly being configured such that the compressor element is moveable towards the holder element within the assembly housing for compression of a fluid conduit between the compressor and the holder elements.

2. The pinch valve assembly of claim 1 wherein, in use, the compressor element is moveable between an open position wherein a fluid conduit between the compressor and the holder elements is uncompressed and a closed position wherein a fluid conduit between the compressor and the holder elements is compressed.

3. The pinch valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the holder element comprises a threaded channel in a base portion.

4. The pinch valve assembly of claim 3 wherein the holder element is fixable to the assembly housing via threaded bolt inserted into the threaded channel of the base portion.

5. The pinch valve assembly of claim 1 further comprising a closure assembly fixable to the valve assembly housing.

6. The pinch valve assembly of claim 5 wherein the closure assembly is fixed to the valve assembly housing with a clamp.

7. The pinch valve assembly of claim 5 wherein the closure assembly is configured to be manually actuated.

8. The pinch valve assembly of claim 5 wherein the closure assembly is configured to be pneumatically actuated.

9. The pinch valve assembly of claim 7 wherein the closure assembly comprises an elongate element and wherein the closure assembly is configured to move the compressor element from the open position to the closed position by application of a twisting force to the elongate element.

10. The pinch valve assembly of claim 8 wherein the closure assembly comprises a biased element and wherein the closure assembly is configured to move the compressor element from the open position to the closed position by pneumatic actuation of the biased element.

11. The pinch valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the compressor is fabricated from stainless steel.

12. The pinch valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the holder is fabricated from Polyphenylsulfone, PPSU.

13. The pinch valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the fluid conduit is a polymeric tube.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0021] FIG. 1 is a representation of the pinch valve assembly of the invention coupled to a manually operated closure assembly

[0022] FIG. 2a is a cut away representation of the pinch valve assembly of the invention coupled to a manually operated closure assembly with the compressor element in the open position

[0023] FIG. 2b is a representation of the pinch valve assembly of the invention coupled to a manually operated closure assembly with the compressor element in the open position

[0024] FIG. 3a is a cut away representation of the pinch valve assembly of the invention coupled to a manually operated closure assembly with the compressor element in the closed position

[0025] FIG. 3b is a representation of the pinch valve assembly of the invention coupled to a manually operated closure assembly with the compressor element in the closed position

[0026] FIG. 4 is a representation of the pinch valve assembly of the invention coupled to a pneumatically operated closure assembly

[0027] FIG. 5a is a representation of the pinch valve assembly of the invention coupled to a pneumatically operated closure assembly with the compressor element in the open position

[0028] FIG. 5b is a cut away representation of the pinch valve assembly of the invention coupled to a pneumatically operated closure assembly with the compressor element in the open position

[0029] FIG. 6a is a representation of the pinch valve assembly of the invention coupled to a pneumatically operated closure assembly with the compressor element in the closed position

[0030] FIG. 6b is a cut away representation of the pinch valve assembly of the invention coupled to a pneumatically operated closure assembly with the compressor element in the closed position

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0032] FIGS. 1 to 6 show the pinch valve assembly of the invention for compression of a fluid conduit. The pinch valve assembly comprises an assembly housing 1; an interchangeable compressor 2; an interchangeable holder 3 for holding a fluid conduit, the holder 3 is positioned facing the interchangeable compressor 2.

[0033] The pinch valve assembly is configured such that the compressor 2 is moveable towards the holder 3 within the assembly housing 1 for compression of a fluid conduit which can be placed in an opening 4 in the housing 1 between the compressor 2 and the holder 3.

[0034] The compressor 2 is moveable between an open position (Seen in FIGS. 2a and 2b, 5a and 5b) wherein a fluid conduit (not shown) placed in the opening 4 between the compressor 2 and the holder 3 is uncompressed and a closed position (Seen in FIGS. 3a and 3b, 6a and 6b) wherein a fluid conduit placed in the opening 4 between the compressor 2 and the holder 3 is compressed by the action of the compressor 2 being moved towards the holder 3. When the fluid conduit, for example a tube, is made from a deformable material, for example rubber tubing or other polymeric tubing, compressing the conduit has the effect of pinching and thus closing the fluid conduit. The conduit may be uncompressed by movement of the compressor 2 back to the open position.

[0035] Within the housing, the interchangeable holder 3 may be selected to best match the profile of the tubing to be used for a given bioprocess being undertaken. The holder 3 comprises a threaded channel 5 in a base portion 6. The holder 3 is secured to the housing using a threaded bolt 7 which has the effect of fixing the holder in place within the housing. Different holders may be used as necessary depending on the tubing required, without any requirement to change the housing 1 or the closure assembly 8, 15.

[0036] The closure assembly 8, 15 may be secured to the housing 1 through mating ferrule ends and the closure assembly 8, 15 and housing 1 are clamped together using a triclamp 9.

[0037] The interchangeable compressor 2 is configured to match the profile of the tubing to be used for the process. The compressor 2 is secured to a stem 11, 17 structure of the closure assembly through mating threads. A threaded channel is provided in the compressor 2 into which a threaded end of the stem 11, 17 may be secured. Both the stem 11, 17 and the compressor 2 may be provided with a suitable coating to prevent seizing. This provides that no lubricants which could come into contact with the operator are required to be used in the overall assembly.

[0038] The compressor 2 and the housing 1 of the pinch valve assembly may be comprised of stainless-steel to provide sufficient strength and durability to the valve. The holder 3 of the pinch valve assembly may be comprised of Polyphenylsulfone, PPSU.

[0039] The pinch valve assembly can be provided with a manual closure assembly 8 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) or pneumatic closure assembly 15 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 6).

[0040] The manual closure assembly 8 comprises an elongate element or stem 11 and the closure assembly is configured to move the compressor 2 from the open position to the closed position and vice versa, by application of a torque or twisting force by a user to the stem 11 via a cap or bonnet 10. In an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a manual PV compressor holder attached to the stem. This provides the function of removing twisting motion from the stem and provides that a linear motion moves the compressor 2 from the open position to the closed position and vice versa.

[0041] The manual closure assembly 8 comprises a coated bonnet 10 and an actuator housing. The bonnet 10 may be manufactured from stainless-steel. The bonnet 10 is threaded to match a suitably-coated stem 11. The stem 11 may be manufactured from stainless-steel. The bonnet and stem are dimensioned and configured to produce the required linear force and stroke to compress and seal the fluid conduit in use. The closure assembly 8 is configured to produce a force to ensure a leak integrity to meet ANSI FCI 70/2 Class VI specification. The stroke of the stem 8 is configured to ensure the fluid conduit in use returns to an uncompressed state (i.e. fully open) when the closure assembly 8 is actuated by twisting to the open position. A polymer PPS (40% GF) is utilised to ensure a light-weight assembly for a manual hand wheel for twisting between the open and closed positions.

[0042] The pneumatic closure assembly 15 comprises a biased element in the form of a spring element 13 fixed to a stem 17 and the closure assembly is configured to move the compressor 2 from the open position to the closed position by pneumatic actuation of the biased element.

[0043] The pneumatic closure assembly 15 utilises a suitably-coated compressor head 16. The compressor head 16 may be manufactured from stainless-steel. The compressor head 16 is threaded to match a stem 17. The stem 17 may be manufactured from stainless-steel. The bonnet and stem are dimensioned and configured to produce the required linear force and stroke to compress and seal the fluid conduit in use. The closure assembly 15 is configured to produce a force to ensure a leak integrity to meet ANSI FCI 70/2 Class VI specification.

[0044] A spring element 13 provides a biased force to the stem 17. Again, the stroke of the stem 8 is configured to ensure the fluid conduit in use returns to an uncompressed state (i.e. fully open) when the closure assembly 15 is actuated to the open position. A thin-wall actuator housing 14 may be utilised to ensure a light-weight assembly. A suitable biased force for the spring element 13 may be selected to provide a default position for the valve assemblyi.e. fail-open, fail-closed or fail-freeze. In FIG. 6, a fail-closed type is illustrated. An air-tight piston 18 allows pneumatic control of the closure assembly 17 to achieve the required pinching functionality.

[0045] The present invention provides for the possibility to change between manual and pneumatic closure modes. To do so, for example a manual closure assembly 8 may be removed by releasing the triclamp 9 and a pneumatic closure assembly 15 may be attached by re-sealing the self-same triclamp 9 to fix the closure assembly 15 to the pinch valve assembly.

[0046] To change between tubing sizes, the interchangeable holder 3 and compressor 2 may be removed and replaced. Each compressor 2 and holder 3 may be configured to ensure the same closure assembly 8 and valve body will provide the required stroke to impinge on the fluid conduit to the required depth and force to seal the conduit against internal fluid pressurewithout damage to the conduit structure. In an embodiment of the invention, the compressor element 2 may be provided in the closure assembly such that removal and replacement of the closure assembly further results in removal and replacement of the compressor element 2.

[0047] Existing metallic pinch valve structures can be used for one process line (i.e. tube or conduit) size only, requiring separate valve assemblies for each single-use line size. The present invention provides that interchanging of the holder 2 and compressor 3 is the only requirement to change between line sizes within a specified size range.

[0048] The words comprises/comprising and the words having/including when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

[0049] It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.